Updated April 13, 2023 3.3K votes 702 voters 162.1K views
Movie stoners: here you will find a definitive list of the most influential, memorable, lovable and abhorable stoners throughout this history of film. Hollywood has taken two different paths when portraying stoners in film, one that is realistic and one that is played for for laughs. Let's take a look at how the stoner has been portrayed as a film character throughout the ages. This list includes both funny film stoner characters and more serious dramatic potheads and druggies.
What are movies for potheads? The main characters in these movies are beloved by stoners, so it should be no surprise that they are on this list. So grab a spliff, some Doritos and some cheap fast food and enjoy!
Had to get this one out of the way, but it did have its impact.
Without a doubt, Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke is considered the Citizen Kane of "smuggling cars made of Marijuana out of Mexico" flicks.
Made in 1978, the flick got Mary Jane out of the closet, and started to give it its due in the public eye (positive). But despite this marijuanassance (which lasted for eight happy years), MJ got shoved right back in around 1986 (all thanks Ronnie and Nancy Reagan).
Regardless of the sad history, the trailer is hysterical. With the Paramount theme that is just a bit too warm and fuzzy, all the way to the squarest sounding announcer ever. It's almost as if the voice over announcer didn't even understand the puns he was iterating. Wonderful.
The Dude. The Dude. The Dude. You either get him or your don't. And for those of you who don't, we're coming after you and we are gonna pee on your rug.
The Dude just is. He is the pot smoker we all want in our lives and the pot smoker we would want to be if we ever took up the habit on a daily basis. He is the "Relax, it'll work out" stoner. The little bit of positive we all want to have and don't, but should.
In Dazed and Confused, there are just so many weed-enhanced teenagers to choose from, but Ron Slater (Rory Cochran) stands out. With a true commitment to keeping American history "real," Slater is passionate about numerous conspiracy theories.
Even aside from Slater, Dazed and Confused is great for stoners not just because the characters are hilarious, but they're all functional, emotional people. And each one displays loyalty to one degree or another. Stoners will always have your back. At least in this movie they do.
Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) is a positive example of a stoner because he is the original surfer dude and model Californian.
Anyway, unlike many of the shallow, always-stoned-but-never-smoke-rip-offs that followed his footsteps (Paulie Shore and Stephen Baldwin in Bio-Dome, for example), Spicoli just seems like the kid with the sunglasses on in high school that everybody loves to like, but doesn't necessarily want to be.
So movie industry, listen up. When picking a stoner character, you should always pick a strong one like Spicoli. That way, when you plug "stoner" into Urban Dictionary you'll get the synonym "Awesome," as in "Totally Awesome!"
These guys made it okay to be friends with your pot dealer. Up until Jay and Bob, drug dealers were portrayed as less than desirable elements in our culture. They made it possible for bromances like Pineapple Express to come later.
Many folks who have only seen an edited version of Caddyshack on TV may incorrectly assume that Carl the Gardner (Bill Murray) is just a mentally handicapped dude who blows up a golf course.
He's a STONER who blows up a golf course. There's a big difference.
This often cut-from-TV scene proves that Carl has been growing a hybrid Kentucky Blue Grass/California Sensimilla in his living room. A new slogan for stoners everywhere: Carl can grow, and so can you!
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